Amid ‘go-Yediyurappa-go’ political drama Sriramulu in Delhi to meet party high commands

Bengaluru: As ‘go-Yediyurappa-go’ political drama in Karnataka took a ‘spiritual’ twist with 35 heads of Lingayat mutts meeting the Chief Minister, who asked him not to vacate his chair, BJP high commands have invited Minister Sriramulu to have talks with him.

As per sources, Sriramulu left for Delhi today (Wednesday, July 21) morning and will be meeting BJP leaders to discuss the Leadership change issue. MLA MP Renukacharya is also in the National capital.

Meanwhile, the seers have promised to come back with bigger numbers to mount more pressure before the July 26 meeting of all BJP MLAs where Yediyurappa is likely to announce his resignation.

The seers, who got solid support financially and otherwise from Yediyurappa in the past two years, have now sent a message to the BJP high command and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The Lingayat community is the BJP’s big support base in the state and the seers have warned the BJP against any move to dislodge the 78-year-old, who also belongs to the community.

Apart from the seers, Yediyurappa received support from some unexpected quarters. Congress member and former water resources minister MB Patil asked BJP to treat Yediyurappa with respect. “BJP may face the wrath of Lingayats if they (party) ill-treat a tall leader of the community. BJP should value his contribution and treat him with dignity,” he tweeted.

Another senior Congress MLA, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who is the president of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, met Yediyurappa. “BJP will be wiped out if Yediyurappa is disturbed. He has built the party from scratch, and the Lingayat community wants him to continue. The Veerashaiva Sabha will back him,” he said.

“They (BJP leadership) should remember history — S Nijalingappa, Veerendra Patil, J H Patel and S R Bommai (all former Chief Ministers). They will destroy themselves if they attempt such a thing,” Shivashankarappa as said.

Meanwhile, in a sign that he is on his way out, Yediyurappa reportedly plans to host a lunch for senior officials and his secretariat staff on July 25, a day before a meeting of the BJP legislature party. This has fuelled further speculation in political circles that his time in office may have come to an end.

Yediyurappa also intends to organise a lunch for BJP MLAs after the meeting, followed by a photo session in the Vidhana Soudha. A few days before that, on July 23 or 24, he is expected to visit his home district, Shivamogga, to inaugurate a slew of projects.